clemmons educational state forest

My husband and I went here with a few family members this past fall. It was a nice hike where there are informational stops informing you about the different trees growing in the area. It was a relaxing hike and not very strenuous. There are longer and shorter routes.

Clemmons Educational State Forest: There are talking trees. Really no joke. This is great for kids and very educational for all ages.

Clemmons Forest is an Educational State Forest located in Johnston and Wake Counties just outside Clayton. As an Educational State Forest, it's primary function is to educate the public about forest ecology and management. There are numerous informational points and forest rangers are available for questions and to conduct classes. One of the more interesting aspects of the forest are the "talking" rocks and trees on their respective trails. Kids and adults alike will enjoy these displays where you push a button and the talkative trees teach you a little about themselves. These short interpretive trails are perfect for visitors of all ages and fitness levels. For a longer hike, check out the Demonstration Trail and Watershed Extension Loop that head deeper into the forest. You can find more informational displays and some old artifacts related to forestry, like an old pine straw baler. The forest is closed in the winter, but in late fall, visitors are treated to lovely displays of fall color.

The "talking" trees are interesting, but the best thing we enjoyed was the nature walk. There is a very large pond and there are places to picnic also. A couple of hours spent outdoors, and real close to home!

Awesome educational Forest with trails, Educational activities and talking trees. Loved coming here as a kid and still like coming here to get into nature

I've visited Clayton a few times and I just recently discovered this niehborhood treasure spot. Perfect for an afternoon picnic or a trail hike complete with a turtle habitat. Beautiful place to get away and enjoy nature for a bit.

Clemmons State Park is a great place to take the kids for a hike & have a picnic. It's quiet and full of wildlife. And it's an educational park. There are picnic tables & a shelter.

I've been a couple of times with the mom's club I belong to. We walked the trails with our kids. Beautiful, but definitely not a place to bring a stroller. We all made that mistake. They have a little dock you can walk on and feed the turtles and fish. The kids loved that. They also love the "talking trees".

I like Clemmons State Forest. It's a nice quiet place to picnic, walk the dog, or just hike. The talking rocks and trees are a nice touch. The Demonstration Trail is a good little leg stretcher. I always check out the long leaf pine trees as I enter. I can tell that it used to be a farm, but it's getting harder. However, the forest is closed each winter. It reopens next spring.

We have been here several times, and have always enjoyed ourselves. The "talking" trees is a particular favorite with the children. There is a large sheltered area for parties, or lunch, and also a nice picnic area. The trails are easy to walk and quite enjoyable. There is ample free parking, and it is located conveniently about 5 minutes from downtown Clayton.

Took my 2 kids there when they were younger. We had a good day exploring the trails & nature. We loved the way the signs & trees talked to us at particular stations. The pond was beautiful, trails easy to walk, picnic shelter a nice shaded place for lunch. Very conveniently located park. The public is allowed to climb the small fire tower which my sons very much enjoyed!

The Ranger-led programs for school kids are great! Very informative and fun. Our elementary-age kids attended programs at the forest recently, and they loved them. We've also walked the trails ("Talking Tree" and "Talking Rock") with the kids before. They are very well done and well-maintained. We always enjoy going here.

This place is a gem. There's several walking trails, plus you can walk your dog there. The scenery is great. There are picnic tables, a nice pond to look at and more.

We have found this excellent venue that is both educational and entertaining. We first visited the Forest to begin a walking program with our 2 Great Danes. The trails offered sights and sounds for all of us and made the leash training so much easier. The grounds are well maintained and there are so many ammenities that the Forest can accomodate parties, meetings and individual needs. I highly recommend visiting.

I've really missed Clemmons during its off season, but in just a few days it will be open for visitors again. It's a great place for a nature walk, and they have three different trails of various lengths, so there should be something for people of all activity levels. They have lots of picnic tables with grills near the parking lot, and the bathrooms are amongst the best I've seen in a park area. They have a large shelter with a big fireplace in the middle of it, and there is a supply of logs available. There is a nice pond off of one of the trails, and the woods are gorgeous. Our dogs love it there as much as we do. The only downside that I can think of is that the only handicapped accessible parts of the place are the shelter, picnic tables, and bathroom (paved trail leads to those). The walking trails are natural wooded trails, so they are not wheelchair or stroller conducive.